Vaginal tampon



July 29, 1958 E. C. WADE VAGINAL TAMPON Filed Aug. 21, 195s INVENToR. ELMER l. Mps,

La. WM

United States Patent O VAGINAL TAMPON Elmer C. Wade, Campbell, Calif.

Application August 21, 1956, Serial No. 605,361

1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-285) This invention relates to tampons of the type which are insertable into the vaginal canal of the female human being for use during the menstrual period.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a properly, efliciently and effectively designed tampon which overcomes the objections to conventional tampons, while at the same time providing many new and desirable improvements.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a tampon which will conform to the general contour of the vaginal canal, be comfortable to wear, be very soft and flexible, absorb the full flow of the fluid from the inside rather than the outside, have a seal layer of tubelike construction to prevent any leaking, that has an additional absorbent protective layer on the outside of the tampon which serves to catch any excess fluid which may seep past into the vaginal canal, one which, by being fairly form fitting, does not feel bulky, and which does not obstruct the normal fluid flow during any part of the menstrual period.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a tampon bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and eflicient in use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional View of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in operative use;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view shown partly in elevation of the invention shown compact within the dispensing tube; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, represents a seal layer of plastic, such as vinyl, polyethylene or the like or other substance having similar physical properties of cup-like tubular shape, open at one end and sealed at the otherend, and having the side portions thereof corrugated or creased in accordion pleat fashion (Fig. 2), said creases being progressively Wider at the top portion thereof than at the bottom. At the lower end of the seal layer, the creases diminish to a smooth seal layer. Said creases are progressively tapered, as mentioned above, so as to cause a greater expansion of the top portion, as shown in Fig. 1.

The seal layer 10 is completely enveloped in an outer layer 11 of highly absorbent, very soft and llulfy material (many such suitable materials are currently produced and are well known to the textile industry), the outer layer 11 extending upwardly and over the upper edges of the seal layer and extending completely over the interior surface thereof in an inner layer 12 of the same material.

It will be noted that the three layers 10, 11.and 12 interior of the vagina.

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are so arranged that they all in combination form a cuplike tube, open at the top and closed at the bottom, as shown in Fig. 1.

A string 13 extends upwardly through the closed bottom of the tampon, penetrating the outer, seal and inner layers and terminating in the knot 14 disposed interiorly thereof. The cordr13 passing through the seal layer 10 would normally cause a hole or leak in the seal layer at this junction. Therefore, it is necessary that this be corrected by cementing the knot 14 securely to the seal layer 10 at the junction point, thus making the junction leakproof.

The tampon is normally compressed into the hollow cylindrical dispensing tube 15 of plastic or other suitable material, open at one end and provided with the closure 16 at the other end (Fig. 3). The closure 16 is provided with the central circular opening 17 through which is slidably positioned the hollow cylindrical plunger 18 of plastic or other suitable material, the plunger 18 at its inner end being formed with the laterally extending flange 1S which abuts the inner face of the closure 16 so as to prevent outward displacement of the plunger therethrough, as will be obvious. The string 13 extends into the plunger tube 18. To eject the tampon and to permit it to expand to its natural position of Fig. l, it is only necessary to press the plunger 13 and to Withdraw the same from the dispenser 15.

Fig. l illustrates the manner in which the tampon is inserted into the vaginal canal 19 and the manner in which it tits about the end or neck of the uterus 20. This figure also illustrates the manner in which the top portion of the tampon ares outwardly to accomplish a form fitting effect about the neck of the uterus.

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in which the outer absorbent layer 1 encompasses the corrugated seal tube layer 10 together with the inner absorbent layer 12 to allow the top portion of the tampon to flare out and also to form the open internal reservoir 21, to be more fully explained hereinafter.

Thus, it will be seen that the tampon absorbs primarily in the inside central portion thereof and is provided with a hollow, center portion 21 which acts in the nature of a reservoir, for reasons more fully explained hereinafter. The tampon has an inside layer 12 of highly absorbent material in tubular arrangement which forms the reservoir and provides the means for internal absorption. It will be also noted that the tampon has an outer layer 11 of highly absorbent material. The cup-like tubular seal member 19 embedded between the inside and outside layers and provided with the corrugated side portions allows for the expansion of the tampon while in use, said cuplike seal being essentially the outside of the internal reservoir. The tampon also has 'rounded upper ends and edges and is constructed so that the curved upper portion, when inserted and in use, will flare sufficiently so that the rounded upper ends or rim will iit snugly around the neck of the uterus. It will also be noted that the tampon is sov designed that there is little possibility of menstrual lluid leaking down past the tampon and reaching the outside of the vaginal canal, which would otherwise tend to stain the clothing of the user of the conventional tampons. It will be seen that most of the menstrual uid is absorbed in the interior portion of the tampon and the vaginal canal is kept nearly dry and therefore sanitary.

It will be further noted from Fig. l that by providing an internal reservoir 21, there is no obstruction to normal liow of menstrual fluid 22. Another important feature is the fact that the wearer of the tampon is warned by a feeling of fullness in the vaginal canal that it is time to change to a fresh tampon rather than adhering to the old method wherein the warning sign was a wet feeling on the Due to the fact that the vaginal canal proper has very little sensory nerve structure, along the walls thereof, the aforementioned wet feeling was too late to prevent the staining of the wearers clothing wh1ch in many cases has resulted in undue embarrassment. The present invention gradually but continuously expands as it fills; therefore it is easy to determine the necessity for a change. A further advantage of the present invention resides in the fact that the tampon is generally form tting and utilizes the entire vaginal canal so that the pressure of the tampon on the vaginal walls is generally even, whereby to eliminate the feeling of a plug or lump being present as is the casewith conventional tampons. Due to the softness and hollow construction of the present invention, there is much less pressure exerted Von the vaginal wall than is usually the case with most tampons.

The present invention, While being primarily intended for use during menstrual periods, has other uses, such as the treatment of venereal disease where it is necessary to keep the infected areas constantly and continuously medi cated. Even the uid medication is easily applied with the tampon since it has a leakproof inner seal tube. This tube can be filled with medication in liquid form and the tampon placed in position. The medication will then be gradually but continuously absorbed by the affected tissue. In and for this use, the tampon will gradually shrink in size, the opposite of the feature of the tampon when being used as a menstrual absorbent. An additional advantage of the present invention when being used for treatment of venereal disease (such as gonorrhea) resides in the fact that the dry or wet medication can be applied to the outer absorbent layer and this treats the entire vaginal canal and also largely prevents the excretion of infectious discharge from reaching the clothing of the infected person. Many cases of gonorrhea infection have been transmitted by other persons handling the clothing of an infected person. It is well known to those close to medicine that infectious gonococcus can remain alive and dangerous for several hours outside the human body if they are contained in moist globules of mucous. This is quite prevalent in clothing recently worn by an infected person.

By slightly altering the specic design of the present invention, it can be easily adapted for treatment of the male penis for similar infections and for prevention of his clothing from coming in contact with infectious discharge.

Referring again to Fig. l, it will be seen that the back side 23 of the tampon is slightly longer than the front side 24. This is done to cause the tampon to conform to the contour of the uterus junction with the vaginal canal which is usually at a slight angle to the vaginal canal, the uterus being usually tilted slightly forward therefrom. The tampon being longer on the back side accomplishes two things-it enables the rounded ends or top edges to t all around the uterus neck and it allows or causes the reservoir to open and remain open while it is in use. If the ends were even, there would be a greater pressure against the uterus on the front side than on the back side. Also the tampon would tend to bend forward and close the reservoir, thereby defeating the purpose of the same.

It will be seen that all the uid is absorbed before any could reach the orifice of the vaginal canal and that the vaginal canal lower portion is kept dry to eliminate any possibility of staining the clothing.

While the tampon is not restricted to the specific materials of construction referred to, certain requirements must be observed. For example, the absorbent layers must be of the material, which is capable of being very soft and fluffy, will gradually expand with increased absorption to prevent packing or hardening, but not have any excessive expansion which will tend to cause undue vagnal pressure before the tampon had reached its full capacity of usefulness.

The tampon will be manufactured in at least three sizes as it is well known that some women have much larger as well as deeper vaginal canals than others.

The tampons will also be produced in two modelsone of thc same containing a deodorant material or compound. The deodorant would have to conform to the legal requirements for such material that are permissible to be used in the vaginal canal without adverse effects.

The seal layer should preferably be of plastic material, such asvinyl polyethylene or other substance having similar physical properties. It should be very flexiuic, but fet sucicntly rigid to maintain the general shape of the tampon without causing any spot pressure points. It must also be of the type that will cause the corrugation to have a spring action sutlicient to expand the tampon out to contact and lit against the vaginal without having excess pressure thereon. Further, it should be of material that cannot possibly soak through with menstrual uid and it should also be free from attack by such medicinal agents as may be employed as in the usual of a tampon in the treatment of vaginal infections.

The combined construction of the absorbent layers and the seal layer should be controlled so that by reducing the diameter of the tampon while loading or inserting it into the dispensing tube, the pleats or folds of the seal layer will not wrinkle or become damaged and to retain the contour expansion qualities thereof. The pleats should be allowed to simply close together to a reduced diameter.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it should be understood that such changes should be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as dened by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A vaginal tampon comprising, in combination, a hollow intermediate liquid impervious member closed at one end and open at the opposite end having a plurality of peripheral pleats for accommodating limited expansion and contraction in a radial direction, said pleats increasing in size toward the upper open end of the intermediate layer to provide a flaired contour, an outer layer of soft liquid absorbent material enclosing said intermediate layer, an inner layer of soft liquid absorbent material within said intermediate layer, the upper edges of said upper and inner layers extending upwardly beyond the ripper edge of said intermediate layer and being secured together independently of said intermediate layer, said intermediate and inner layers being ared outwardly for partially receiving therewithin the neck of the uterus, the outer layer adapted to extend into the vaginal canal, said inner layer providing a fluid receiving reservoir, a string extending through the closed end of said outer, intermediate and inner layers and having an enlargement at its inner end, said enlargement being sealed to said intermediate layer, a hollow elongated cylindrical container open at one end and closed at the opposite end, said open end of said cylindrical container slidably receiving said outer, intermediate and inner layers inwardly therethrough with said pleated portions of said intermediate layer in a closed position, said closed end of said container defining a circular opening, an elongated hollow cylindrical plunger slidably received within said circular opening of said cylindrical container, the inner end of said plunger having a radially outwardly extending flange for abutment with said respective layers, and said string extending outwardly through said plunger through said inner end thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 1,222,825 Walter Apr. 17, 1917 2,330,257 Bailey sept. 2s, 1943 2,499,414 Rabell Mar. 7, 1950 2,739,593 McLaughlin Mar. 27, 1956 

